Clan Deuchar

A sept of Lindsay

The Motto for the Deuchar Coat of Arms is "Virtutis gloria merces", which means "Glory is the reward of valour"

DEUCHAR, Deuchars of territorial origin from the lands of Deuchar in the lordship of Fern or Fearn in Angus. The Deuchars of that Ilk were considered one of the oldest families in the district, and are said to have come into posession of the lands of Deuchar about the year 1230. An imaginative genealogy (Warden, III, p.276) traces the family to the second son of Gilchrist, earl of Angus, but no docuentary records of the family exist till 1369 when Sir Alexander Lindsay of Glenesk granted charter of the lands of Deuhqwhyr to William of Deuhqwhyr de eodem as heir to his father (Jervise LL., p.232). The family were evidently vassals of the Lindsays at that period, and probably, at an earlier date, of the Montealtos (Mowats). The connection of the Deuchars with the lands ceased in 1819 when the lands were sold and the late owner left Scotland for the colonies (ibi., p. 230). Duchir of that Ilk is mentioned as one of te ariters in a dispute among neighbours in 1478 (ALC., p.18), David Duchir, portioner of the lands of Walterstoune is in record, 1535 (REB., n, 186), Robert Dewquhir was a friar of Culross, 1569 (Laing, 844), John Dwichair, cordinar in Aberdeen, 1581 (SCM., II, p. 54), and in 1591 there is recorded a band of caution by David Dewchar fiar of that Ilk (RPC., IV, p. 672). Alexander Docher was a writer (lawyer) in Edinburgh, 1686 (RPC., 3. ser. XII, p.230). Dequhar, Deuchair, Deuchars, Deucharys, Deucher, Deuchor, Deughar, Deugher, Deuquhair, Deuquhar, Deuquhare, Deuquhyre, Dewchare, Dewquhar, Docher, Docker, Doker, Dowgar, Duchar, Duchre, Duquhar (1570), Duquhare (1713), Dwichaor (1581).

In Gaelic deoradh means pilgrim or stranger and was also a term for someone who had custody of the relics of a saint: a Pethshire family of this name were for centuries custodians of the crozier-head of St Fillan.